Electric-lighting system



Patented May 4, 1926.

one!) STATES f PATENT ,FFrcE.

WILLIAM G. H. VIEFEL, OF JENVER, COLORADO. i

ELECTRIC-LIGHTING SYSTEM.

application filed March 19, 1923. Serial No. $936,076.

To all 207mm it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. H. W'EFEL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State ofColorado, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements inElectric-Lighting Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My'inven'tion relates to a system for'autoinatically regulating thecurrent flow in electric lighting circuits and its primary object is toprovide in a circuit of this character an electric magnetic appliancewhichby the temporary'in'clusion' 'ofa supplemental coil in the courseofcurrent. flow, renders said flow equable from the moment the circuit iscompleted.

My invention is particularly adapted for use in a series electriclighting circuit in which in the event of an interruption in the currentflow in any lamp unit bybreaka'ge of the lamp filament or other similarcause,

a resistance substantially equivalent tothat produced in the lamp, isautomatically connected in the circuit.

The resistance circuit isclosed by' the,

switch when the electromagnet is in itsn'ormal inactive cond'ition andis opened only when, after the circuit has been closed in the line, thelines of magnetic force produced in the magnet are sufiicient to openthe switch and it will be apparent that before the resistance circuit isthus opened, the current 1 1n a lamp unit the filament of which isintact, will be split with substantially equal portions going throughthe lamp and the.

resistance as long as the lines of magnetic force are insuilicient toopen the switch and that the consequently decreased resistance in saidunit will cause the lamps of other units in the series to receive anoverload of current, While the lamp in the unit in which the current hasbeen split Will incandesce intention also cf ants in lighting systems inwhich ashunting appliance ofthe above described character is not,provided since by the automatic inclusion Of'ChBfl-HX- ihary coll 1n theclrcuit during the initial supply of current, the current flow 1sretarded and thereby prevented from rushing .to' thelamps' in the seriesat more than'its normal voltage, which ordinarily causes atemporary-flaring of the light produced in the lamps and is injurious tothe filaments of the same.

In. the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention in operative}relation to an incandescent lamp'fixture equipped with a resistance andan electromagnet for connecting it in the circuit by incapacitation ofthe lamp as vhereinbefore explained, and since the'operation ofthe'invention in connection with fixtures without this resistance "issubstantially the same, I did not believe it necessary to exemplify thesame'by further illustration; t y

In the construction and arrangement of elements shown'inthe'drawings andhereinafter to be explained, my'invention-ha's been embodied inpracticaland simple form but I I desire it" understoodthat variations inthe arrangement and electrical connections of said elements may beavailed of without departing from the spirit-of the invention as definedin the hereunto appended claims.

In the drawings inxthe two views of which corresponding parts have beensimilarly designated by numerical characters of ref- Figure 1 representsapar'tially diagrammatic View of the co-operatingelements of v thefixture and their electrical connections as assembled upon the lowersurface of a non-conductive" base, the electric switch forming, part ofthe system having been shown in side elevation andth'e 'lampsockethaving been shown in superposed relation tothe base, with the object ofclearly delineating the courses of the current flow between thedifierent elements, and

Figure 2; a sectional elevation of the fixture in a plane indicated bythe line 2-9-2,

Figure 1. t

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral- 2 designatesacircularbase-plate of non-conductive material upon. the undersurface of whichthe co=operatingelements of the fifirt'iireand their electrical 001mmtions assembleal mpact are The ase'is in practice, asaaeas aina'escutcheon around the socket to deflect the light of the lamp.

Two resistance coils 7 fastened upon the base are connected in series bya wire 8 ant the electromagnetic switch which controls the connection ofthe resistance in the circuit and which in its entirety is designated bythe numeral 9, is likewise fastened to the base in convenient adjacencyto the socket and the coils.

The switch comprises a conductive spool 10 mounted between and inelectric connection with two hangers 12 which are suspended from thebase by screws 13. The core and inner surfaces of the spool are coveredwith, layers of insulating material for the support of the windings ofthe electromagnet.

The armature 14 of the magnet is pivotally mounted as at 15 in a bearingat the lower end of one of the hangers 12 and it has at its free end acontact blade 16 which controls the current flow by engagement with oneor the other of two contacts 17 and 18 at the lower ends of posts 19.and20 which are fastened to the base in insulated relation to each other. Acoiled spring 21 attached at its ends to an extension of the armatureand the upper end of the hanger on which the armature is supported,serves to hold the armature normally in engage ment with the contact 17The spool of the electromagnet supports in addltion to the ordinarycoil, a second coil of lesser current-carrying capacity andcorrespondingly greater resistance which for convenience is wound uponthe other.

The first mentioned coil which will hereinafter be referred to as themain coil or windings, is designated in Figure 1 of the drawings by thereference numeral 22, while the additional coil of relatively greaterresistance, hereinafter to be referred to as the auxiliary coil orwindings, has been shown at 23.

The fixture is connected at opposite sides of a break in one of the linewires 2e and 25 of the electric circuit through the medium of bindingposts 26 and 27 on the base.

The two windings 22 and 23' have a common connection 28 with the contact18 on the post 20 and the opposite end of the main coil'22 is connectedto the binding post 26 of the line wire 24L by means of a conductor 29in which the lamp-socket is included through the medium of its terminals30 which in practice are connected by the filament of the lamp. 2

The opposite end of the auxiliary windings 28 is connected to thebinding post 27 of the line wire 24: through the medium of a conductor31, the connection between the windings and said conductor beingniadethrough the intermediary of one of the hangers 12 of the conductivemagnet spool 10.

The two resistance coils 7 the combined ohmic resistance of whichslightly exceeds that of the lamp filament, are connected in series in'ashunt 32 of the conductor 22 which connects the main windings of theelectromagnetic switch with the line wire 24, and included in this shuntare the spool 10 of the magnet and the armature l t of the same when itengages 'with the contact 17. I

The shunt is formed by connecting an end of one of the connectedresistance coils in the line through the medium of the hint ing post 26and connecting the opposite end of the other coil with the contact 17When the circuit in which the fixture is included is open, the armatureof the electromagnetic switch is held in a position of rest upon thecontact 17 by the coiled spring 21 and if subsequently, the circuit isclosed in the line, the current passes initially through both windingsof the electromagnet and owing to the greater number of the auxiliarywindings immediately produces sufiicient lines of magnetic force toattract the armature.

The course of current in this initial flow is'beginning at the source ofelectricity 83, the line wire 24, the conductor 29 including the lampfilament, the main coil 22 of the electromagnetic switch, the auxiliarycoil 23 and the line wire 24: at the opposite side of the break.

The lines of magnetic force produced in the magnet by the current flowthrough both its coils, cause the armature to move immediately intoengagement with the contact 18 and by its disengagement from the.contact 17 breaks the shunt in which the resistance coils are connectedand thereby ex-' eludes said coils from the path of the current, Withthe armature in this position the current flow is as follows Beginningat the source of electricity 33, the. line wire resistance supplementalto thatthrough the loo llt)

24, the conductor 29 including 7 the lamp filament, the main coil 22 ofthe l main coil, the resistance 7 'is'instantly excluded from the pathof the current as'soon as, the lamp circult is closed, and that 111'conseqeun'ce the lamp will immediately in to attract the armature untilafter the cur rent has attained its fullvoltage.

hen the lamp is in its normal operative condition as hereinaboveexplained, the current flow is mainly through the main winding of themagnet, it being obvious that by reason of its greater resistance butlittle current will pass through the lighter windings.

l Vith a normal voltage, sufiicient lines of magnetic force are producedin the main windings to maintain the armature in engagement with thecontact, so that the auxiliary windings function only at the beginningof the operation and are practically inactive under normal operatingconditions.

In case the filament of the lamp is broken or the lamp is otherwiseincapacitated, the magnet is deenergized and the current is shuntedthrough the resistance coils along the following course:

Beginning at the source, the line wire 24, the shunt 32 including theresistance coils 7 the contact 17, the armature which afterdeenergization of the magnet was moved to its original position by thespring 21, the conductive spool of the magnet, the conductor 31 and theline wire 24 at the opposite side of its break. By including theresistance in the circuit immediately upon breakage of the lampfilament, through the automatic action of the switch, the current flowthrough the other lamps of the series is continued and each lamp of theseries will remain in operation long as the circuit is closed,irrespective of the condition of the other lamps,

hen the invention is' employed in a circuit not provided with resistanceshunts, the

initial flow of current when the circuit is first closed will beretarded by the inclusion of the coil of greater resistance until thearmature is withdrawn from the contact 17 as before, and an excess ofcurrent to the lamp filament is thereby prevented.

Having thus described my invention, what 7 I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: v

1. In a system of regulating the current flow in an electric lightingcircuit, a circuit, a lamp therein, an electromagnet including a maincoil and an auxiliary coil connected in the circuit in series with eachother and the lamp, and a switch closed by electromagnet the" magnet andconnected in the circuit to of current to the lampand the two coilsbeing'r'elatively arranged for conjoint magnetic acti onto operate "theswitch.

2 In 'a' system 01" regulating the current flow in an electric lightingcircuit, a circuit, a lamp therein", an clectromagn'et including a maincoil and anauxilia'rycoilconnected in" the circuit in series with eachother and the lamp, and a switch actuated by the magnet and connected inthe circuit to provide a by-path around the auxiliary coil after themagnet has been energized, the combined resistances of the two coilsbeing high enough to restrict the initial flow of current to the lampand the two coils being relatively arranged for conjoint magnetic actionto operate the switch.

3. In a system of regulating the current flow in an electric lightingcircuit, a circuit, a lamp therein, an electromagnet including a maincoil and an auxiliary coil connected in the circuit in series with eachother and the lamp, a shunt in thecircuit around the auxiliary coil, andan armature-switch connected in the shunt to close the same byenergization of the magnet, the combined resistances of the two coilsbeing high enough to restrict the initial flow of current to the lampand the two coils being relatively arranged for conjoint magnetic actionto operate the switch.

4. In a system of regulating the current flow in an electric lightingcircuit, a circuit, a lamp therein, an electromagnet including aconductive spool, and a main coil and an auxiliary coil connected in thecircuit in series with each other and the lamp, a shunt in the circuitaround the auxiliary coil providing a path for current through the maincoil including the conductive spool, and'an armature-switch connected inthe shunt to close the same on energization of the magnet, the combinedresistances of the two coils being high enough to restrict the initialflow of current to the lamp and the two coils being relatively arrangedfor conjoint magnetic action to operate the switch.

5. In a system of regulating the current flow in an electric lightingcircuit, a circuit, a lamp therein, an electromagnet including amain'coil and an auxiliary coil connected in the circuit in series witheach other and the lamp, a normally closed shunt in the circuit aroundthe lamp, a resistance in said shunt, a shunt in the circuit around theauxiliary coil, and an armature-switch connected in the shunts to openthe first mentioned shunt and close the other shunt on energizetion ofthe magnet, the combined resistances of the two COIlS being. high enoughto restrict the initial fiow of current to the lamp and the two coilsbeing relatively arranged for con oint magnetic actlon to operate theswitch,

6. In a system of regulating the current flow in an electric lightincircuit a circuit 1 J 2.9 7 7 a lamp therein, an electromagnet includinga conductive spool, a main coil and an auxiiiary 0011 connected 1n thecircuit 1n series with each other and the lamp, a normally closed shuntin the circuit around the lamp,

including the conductive spool, and an armature-switch connected in theshunts to open the first mentioned shunt and close the other shunt onenergization of the magnet, the combined resistances of the two coilsbeing high enough to restrict the initial flow of current to the lampand the two coils being relatively arranged for conjoint magnetic actionto operate the switch.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

\VILLIAM O. H. VVEFEL.

